William F. Tate IV

B.S. Economics, 1982

Professor Tate is the Edward Mallinckrodt Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. He is widely considered to be one of the nation’s leading social scientists, urbanists, and policy leaders.

After receiving his undergraduate education at Northern, he earned a master’s degree in mathematical sciences from the University of Texas at Dallas and a doctorate in mathematics education from the University of Maryland.

Tate’s research and development efforts are in four interdependent areas: human resource development in mathematics, engineering, technology and science; adolescent development and health; political economy of urban metropolitan regions; and leadership in public-private learning alliances and research collaborations. An overarching conceptual theme in each area is a focus on understanding environmental and genetic risk factors linked to human development with the goal of explaining mechanisms that are both positively and negatively related to psycho-social outcomes.

Tate has authored scores of journal articles and book chapters focused on school mathematics, school science, technology education, and urban school reform. He served as the 2007-2008 president of the American Educational Research Association and as editor of the American Educational Research Journal. His most recent book project is titled, Education Research in the Public Interest: Social Justice, Action, and Policy.” A forthcoming book project is titled, Research on Schools, Neighborhoods, and Community: Toward Civic Responsibility.